Code Academy

As an IIT student I try to be as realistic as possible concerning my capabilities as an IT professional.  With that being said, I have always liked the "thought" of coding but often the "thought" of actually doing serious coding makes me nervous.  I've taken several java courses and even a cobol course so I feel confident that I can successfully work in the industry and at least be able to partner or communicate with a developer however there has been this nagging feeling that I should not let my coding demons defeat me.  Therefore I have embarked upon a journey via Codeacademy.com to strengthen my coding skills!  I have overcome many obstacles in life and now that my August graduation is pending I have decided that learning to code decently will be my new hobby.  I have started with Python and although my demanding schedule has not allowed me much time to delve deeply into the language, I am very impressed with how code academy approaches the language and cannot wait to delve deeper into the language.  I've worked with several computer science students and excellent coders and I definitely think that I can hold my on if I stop being wary and embrace being uncomfortable.  It has worked well for me so far so I see no reason I can't add to my existing skills!  It seems like the site takes a very laid back approach and makes a genuine effort to build a comfortable environment that makes the languages seem accessible and manageable to those who may have kept a healthy distance from in depth coding.  So here goes nothing!!!!

Sales Engineering "The Inside Job"

http://www.thesalesengineer.com/2013/04/17/the-inside-job/

As an aspiring sales professional I find this blog to be very useful.  I make it a habit to try and stay abreast of what's going on in the industry even if some of the issue's are a bit above my head technically.  Furthermore I follow Sales Engineer Blogs because I ultimately want to be a technical sales manager.  Darrin Mourer does an awesome job blogging about how issues in today's technical world pertain to today's sales engineers.  This particular blog speaks about champions and it makes perfect sense to me!  I think the best way to close some of the biggest deals is to work with an inside connection.  This notion resonates with me because I've managed to land two prestigious internships and various awards with a cumulative GPA that is anything but stellar however I know and believe that I am capable of comprehending and delving into any technical issue.  I know how to build relationships   and therefore I have learned how to get people to look past small weaknesses to see the bigger stronger picture that is me.   The practice of using a champion to succeed on a deal seems like it will be second nature to me.  I've made a habit out of overcoming obstacles in various ways and I imagine these qualities will serve me well as a future sales engineer!

Questions to Ask Employers

http://www.businessinsider.com/6-questions-to-ask-during-your-interview-that-will-make-an-employer-want-to-hire-you-2013-2?goback=.gde_1855043_member_227898007

This article was a homerun!  Asking questions can differentiate a student from the rest of the crowd and show's the student has a genuine interest in joining the company.  I would like to take this one step further however in that while it is a severe mistake to not ask questions, it is potentially an even greater mistake to ask the WRONG questions.  I believe sincerity is important in an interview so therefore if you have a list of the same three questions you ask each and every interviewer you could potentially be coming across as insincere.  I believe it is good practice putting in significant time in what questions to ask.  I also believe that too many students get caught up on the true purpose of asking these questions.  While it is true, asking appropriate questions can make you seem like a better candidate, but above all it gives you a chance to learn more about the company!

Endorsements not all they are cracked up to be on LinkedIn

http://www.linkedin.com/e/euikez-heqx0ser-56/nab/5720234406476513332/true/weekly/eml-ced-b-art-N-3/?hs=false&tok=3IboHAIScKZlE1

I totally agree with this article!!!  I have tried to shy away from endorsements due to the fact that I do not believe that one click of a button determines that one actually has built trust and confidence with others in the specified skills.  In my mind, an endorsement is like co-signing on an auto loan or a lease.  You should always do so sparingly and with care.  With that being said, I have been endorsed on LinkedIn before and I do appreciate the compliment from classmates, but with that being said....it is still just a compliment.  Compliments do not get you jobs, provide deliverables or even land you interviews.  Truth be told, I have exposed myself to many technologies but I am reticent to put them on my resume and unless I am confidents that I have a significant working knowledge of the technology.  Most hiring managers have many years of experience and when I think of the subjects that I know a great deal about, it takes me just a few seconds to identify a person that has a similar, higher or lower knowledge level.  Therefore, I am careful about the skills I claim to have and I think that this feature on LinkedIn is much too easily accessible.  I equate this feature with the "Like" button on Facebook.  There is nothing wrong with it, but it shouldn't carry a lot of weight.

S.T.E.M Diversity Event Review

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a diversity event and I honestly could've come up with several other ways to spend my afternoon.  I am not knocking STEM events but there are a few things about this event that bothered me.  First of all, I registered for the event and subsequently sent an email asking for a list of what employers would be there.  The event was advertised that 2 companies would have speakers there along with representatives from other companies.  I love to research people and companies, especially if I know that I 'm going to be interacting with a representative.  In my mind this is good practice at any level regardless of if you are a student or not. When I sent the email, I was told that I would receive a list when I arrived at the event.  Needless to say, I was not pleased when I arrived that there were no representatives there from any other companies.  The second complaint I have is concerning the students that showed up.  It baffles me that students will come to a professional event with professional networking opportunities and wear jeans and a tshirt.  I was also stunned at how little the attending students seemed to know about decorum and how to conduct themselves.  If i had known the level of the students that were attending I would not have gone.  The event was probably more of a benefit for those who are BEHIND the curve on how to represent their brand and reach their career goals.

Doing your homework

After reading the Forbes article on leadership I could identify with all the points the article was making but the section about "doing your homework" especially stood out to me.  I equate this section with my personal belief of knowing your craft.  Being that this is my last semester, naturally my job hunting strategy has to not only find the job that I want but also to have several offers to choose from.  I use my spare time to research technology and the industry of each of the top 4 companies I want to work for and although I cannot claim to be a specialist in these areas the knowledge I am gaining is adding to my foundation of knowledge.  You see, I believe that whether or not you specialize in mainframe, security or windows related tech, one can never have too much tech knowledge.  I believe that too many students tend to rely on gaining knowledge from either thier classes or they assume they will start learning with initial job training.  I equate this with waiting to eat food until you get starved for nutrition.  I believe that I belong in the field of IT and I strive to know my craft.  I read blogs, read whitepapers and articles about things that I understand as well as things that may be outside of my current realm of understanding but it all serves a purpose for me and will benefit my future employer.  If you want to be succesful and land a job you are happy doing, I suggest you make obtaining information about your field your hobby and not just a task you are forced to do.

Answer to Why Google Glasses Will Fail........Are you kidding me?!

http://www.techi.com/2013/03/7-reasons-why-google-glass-will-fail/
+Lynn Keane

First of all, If I had the money, I would definitely go out and purchase a pair of these glasses. I read this article and I must say that they have a few points but in order to reference these glasses as a failure, there must be more consistent and prominent definition of how failure is being viewed.  It is hard to believe that a MEDIOCRE company like GOOGLE would have to STOOP to such LOWLY and UNORIGINAL depths to plug such a MUNDANE product.  I'm not sure I can prognosticate what the first quarter of sales will be for this product but you can bet your bottom dollar the numbers will be high.

First of all, the review labels the glasses "a little too obnoxious".  There are those who walk among us that believe that the samsung galaxy note is obnoxiously big, yet sales thrive.  There are those that believe the ipad mini is a waste (I personally prefer the regular ipad and tend to agree) yet sales thrive.  There are those who think Instagram and Twitter are pointless,  yet usage is high.  Do you get my drift?

Secondly, the article brings into account "trust by peers".  These days, the folly of all can be found on Youtube or any random internet site, and it doesn't take a pair of computerized glasses to expose people.  So granted, one may be suspicious of someone donning these glasses in a social setting, this is hardly a reason to claim these glasses will fail.

The article then goes on the say "something better will come along".  I would personally love for this person to help me pick my bracket for this year's March madness because surely there exists no better prognosticator in this realm or the next!!!  OF COURSE something better will come along!!!!  The iphone was the first of its kind and I personally believe the Droids are better, but how long did it take for everyone else to catch up.

Truthfully, I would not be surprised if Google has already developed a pair that is leaps and bounds ahead of this pair but the point is for Google to be the first to make a sizable splash in the pond of wearable computing.  Apple sold us "slightly improved" versions of the iphones each year and yet garnered millions in sales and continue to thrive.  If one buys a new phone or new television, after 1 year (probably sooner)  you go to the store and start lusting after something newer and better.  These glasses are a taste and preview of what is to come.  Larry Page and Sergey Brin don't strike me as the types to just put a TWIST on a Bluetooth device and bet all their capital on whether people will accept it.  You can probably assume that there is a plan in place and whether you go out and drop the money on a pair of these glasses don't change the fact that scores of others will.  I went to the movies recently and saw many people with Bluetooth devices in their ear and although personally I want to rip them out and throw them as far as I can see them does not change the fact that they held their place in technological history.  Failure is a movie going straight to DVD after its release.  Failure indicates minimal or no success.  Failure is ultimately a relative term, but to say that these glasses will be a failure is utterly ridiculous.  Google has a plan, and whatever it is, these glasses are only the beginning.  I'll bet this person also felt the same way about Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, PS3, Call of Duty...........The Harlem Shake........................

"Create IT Discovery Day A Success"

This past weekend was a very good showing for the IT Discovery Day at It-oLogy!  We almost doubled the attendance from last year and I felt that the work we put in was reflected in the success of the events and the interest we garnered from the students.  I really feel the key to enhancing the pipeline for IT is not only getting professionals to participate, but getting successful students to also share their perspectives for success.  We all know of things that we wouldve done differently if we could start over and I think that younger students should hear these things from us.  I felt proud to be the project lead for this event, and the work that my team put in definitely paid off!

LinkedIn Gaining Popularity.....Sort Of

Today's LinkedIn workshop was very basic.  I have been using linkedin for awhile now so I learned nothing new, but I did find it interesting and encouraging that the university is now pushing students to join and get connected on linkedin.  I also think that it should be broadcasted that Linkedin is not meant to be a replacement for personal networking and in person meetings, but it is most effective when used to augment one's existing and potential personal relationships.  There were still only 3 other students there and I am still thoroughly surprised when I hear other IIT majors that do not use it but it only cripples their chances and increases mine!

Bye to the tie!!!

http://virg.in/b2t

So the above link deals with Richard Branson's "bye to the tie" campaign.  I must say that I follow most of what Richard Branson has to say and being a super successful billionaire does help lend credence to many of his ideals.  However, not everyone can take up this particular cause because we do live in a world that is still hung on appearance as well as certain preconceived notions on what is acceptable in and out of the work place. I personally love suits and ties and own many blazers, ties and a few suits.  Also, if my budget allowed at this particular point in time I would buy many more.  I seem to remember  some time ago, people claiming that a university education may not be necessary because of the success Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates and others experienced leaving college early to pursue their endeavors.  If you have the business acumen and the kind of brain power that surpasses your physical appearance then go for it!!  The problem with this mentality is that this mentality does not particularly apply to those who lack exceptional skills and personality.  First impressions still very much rule the business world.  I think that Richard Branson has a point but I do have a problem with technical people that automatically dismiss those who choose to dress up because they feel that fancy suits and ties belay a lack of technical knowledge and ability.  I do wear t shirts and jeans but it depends on the mood that I am in and the situation.  I also personally think that I look great when I am dressed up and I am as comfortable in a tie as I am in casual clothing.  The key is to find a look that works best for YOU.  I've worked along side many developers that work best in Grateful Dead t-shirts cargo shorts.  Most of these people, however, have done significant work in the industry and are currently making valuable contributions to their corporation.  I desire to work in a sector of technology that allows for direct client interaction so my ultimate practice will be to dress appropriately for my specific client.  If I am ever fortunate enough to do business with any of Richard Branson's people then I will gladly forego the tie for the day.  However if left up to me, my ties are here to stay!!!

Yahoo eliminates work from home!!

So theres a new hot topic out there involving Yahoo now eliminating the work from home option from its employees. The issue has sparked debate and outrage on Twitter and in the networking arena from Yahoo's employees and those who follow Yahoo's progress.  I took to Twitter and many people feel that Marissa Meyer making such a strong decision is reminiscent of the 80's work environment.  I even saw other companies tweeting that they still embraced remote employees and even put out offers for unhappy employees to apply with their companies.  As for my own opinion, I understand that Marissa is trying to promote collaboration and connection among employees but in this day and age I am not sure if totally eliminating the ability to work from home is the best route to go.  Perhaps recent troubles at Yahoo have caused them to go to this extreme due to other financial reasons as well as they fight for relevancy in today's market.  As a future IT professional I am very well aware that I will very possibly be working remotely during some points of my career and I find it hard to see how such a policy will truly be implemented but the next few months of this new mandate unfolding should be interesting.  I would love to converse with a current and experienced remote employee to see how they feel about this!

New Playstation 4

As the owner of a PS3 I was a little intrigued in seeing which direction Sony would go in involving the release of the new PS4.  Truthfully, with the hefty price tag this new system will be sporting, and with my current system working just fine, I have no intentions of buying this system.  I am also dismayed that it is not compatible with any games purchased for the PS3 system.  Perhaps the biggest change with the new system seems to be it's complete social network integration for those gamers who are big on combining the benefits of gaming and social networks.  I for one, use my gaming system as a form of entertainment to get away from the social network so I would prefer the system have other developments but perhaps more will be revealed.  I have plans in place to use my social networks for professional purposes, therefore I am not really big on connecting my network to my gaming habits in the least.  Perhaps there will be more about this system that will be attractive but as of now, I am not interested.

Why I'm happy students take personal branding for granted!

One of my professors, +Lynn Keane , recently posted an article concerning the importance of doing your research and personal branding.  For me personally, I have read many blogs and articles concerning how important personal branding is, and how enhancing one's network is included in the many ways one can build their brand and gain exposure.  Valuable advice I'm sure, yet so many students, at least in my circle, do not heed this advice!  There are students that I have encountered that do not know which direction they want their IT careers to go in, they have no professional friends on Facebook, or they simply connect with someone on LinkedIn and beef up there profile and then cross their fingers and hope for the best.  I must say that I LOVE this trend because if this is my competition then I know that I have a leg up on some of these students.  You would think that in today's competitive and scarce market most students would jump at the opportunity to promote themselves and increase their earning potential simply by putting themselves out there but this is NOT what occurs. Although I have achieved high marks in my curriculum the past two years, I do not have a stellar overall academic career at USC.  Being a completely independent student and working multiple jobs hindered academic success early on in my career at USC but I did gain perspective by taking time to travel and expose myself to different parts of the world while also working multiple jobs provided a foundation for working with all manners of people.  As a result, I am not afraid to engage with anyone, and their are few topics that I will not throw my hat in being that my life experience has cast  a wide blanket of relevance that allows me to easily engage with all sorts of individuals in all walks of life.  I will drive several hours to meet or have the chance to interact with someone that I can learn from.  I will design what I call a "network map" to structure a way to engage someone that has the power to help get me to where I want to be in my career.  Although I don't succeed nearly enough, I constantly look up conferences and attempt to find a way to see if I can be sponsored to attend since my financial situation is tight.  I successfully managed to get sponsored to attend an Enterprise Computing Conference in New York and gained many valuable contacts and much needed information during my time there.  I am not afraid to step out of my comfort zone and engage with ANYONE.  If someone I admire makes a statement on Twitter or LinkedIn I look for ways to engage.  Much of the success and publicity
I have received over the past year, whether it is being mentioned in an article or winning a scholarship, is not necessarily due to me being more intelligent than other students, but it is due to the growing strength of my network and ability to be seen and remembered. I have a long way to go but I am pushing forward while others remain stagnant.  I will take any edge that I can get so I'm glad that other students still have the ridiculous notion that Twitter is a waste of time.  I am glad other students only get on LinkedIn to complete an assignment and do just enough to get by.  I'm glad that many students will wait until graduation to reach out to potential employers.  I'm glad that personal branding is seen as a chore to some, as opposed to a privilege that our generation gets to enjoy that is virtually free of charge and can put your personality thousands of miles across a distance into the views of those who are otherwise inaccessible.  More for me I say!!!

Next Wave Tech

As a student it is sometimes difficult to afford all the techie gadgets that catch my interest but these days I can honestly say that one of the highlights of my upcoming graduation is finally having a steady income that can partially fund some of my hi-tech desires.  As the owner of a Droid Smartphone I have lost much of my fervor for envying the latest cell phones from Apple and Droid.  The last tech purchase I made was my Ipad and honestly, I do not feel that I have needed much else. Thanks to increased marketing and articles ranging from Sergey Brin's random photographed outing on a New York subway in "Google Goggles" and talks of Apple releasing a versatile "smart watch" capable of some James Bond Techlike abilities, my interests are staring to picque again!  If my stating salary permits, I would have no shame in admitting I'd be among the first wave of consumers to try out a new set of Google Goggles without hesitation.  Smartphone and tablet innovations have been plentiful as of late but these goggles could be the first of a new wave of tech that takes us into the next tier of device development that brings us closer to the awe inspiring feeling we crave when we ponder the excitement of owning super techno capable spy gear that we often see on television and in movies.  Let it begin! (soon I hope)

IIT Overlooked at SET Career Fair?

If there is one thing I learned at last summer's internship with a global employer is that the other technical interns I met did not seem to be more qualified than me in terms of showing the ability to contribute to many goals of a company.  I am not knocking the other technical majors however at this year's career fair, yet again it baffles me how some companies show up looking exclusively for Comp Sci majors or Engineering majors.  I believe that employers should open the minds of the HR representatives they send to these fairs so that we can finally bypass that awkward moment when you go up to a company and they show subtle, if not obvious, disappointment or disinterest because they have a quota they must meet that only involves certain majors.  If a student has significant technical aptitude then that student should be treated with the same applomb as engineering and comp sci students.  I was brought to a recent interview session (along with two other IIT students) for a widely known company along with schools and majors from all over the country and our group stood out significantly during the problem solving parts of the interview.  IIT majors may not prefer coding, but we have just as much technical potential as other majors and should be treated as such!

Posscon Speaker Harper Reed Announced!

As excitement for the upcoming POSSCON 2013 builds I was pleased when I learned from Todd Lewis that Harper Reed will be one of the speakers.  Harper served as CTO for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign which centered around "vast digital data operation".  Why am I stoked? It is widely known that Obama's camp spent far less that Romney on the IT portion of his campaign but somehow managed to put Romney's IT personnel to shame.  I cannot proclaim to fully understand Harper's background being that he specializes in building paradigm-shifting tech, but I do understand that data science is playing a huge role in how the business world operates.  With Harper at the helm the importance of using the enormity of the Internet to bring people together mixed with the evolving of data science, Obama's successful campaign is but one of many contributing factors to why I am eager to hear what Harper has to say.

Is Ubuntu right for U??

Tonight I attended the Ubuntu workshop at It-ology with +Jim Salter and although I have been exposed to open source technology before I must say I was pleased with the workshop.  I think that there are those that may be a little skeptical about open source either due to security concerns in a professional capacity or we chose to stick to system environments we are accustomed to.  Given Jim's impeccable reputation in the technology community it would be easy to assume that tonight's workshop would be above the heads of those who are not quite familiar with the open source world, but this was clearly not the case tonight.  Whether you are a fan of Apple or Windows it cannot hurt to familiarize yourself with the options that open source can bring.  Ubuntu, for instance, is easy to download and for those who are tentative about trying new things it has many of the features that you would find in Windows 7.  I really liked Jim's delivery tonight and I highly recommend that people get exposed to open source because it is here to stay.  Lastly, above all, it is absolutely free to test drive!!!!

What is the "IT" Factor?

I started this blog for both academic, personal and professional purposes.  I've dedicated the last few years of my life to finding out what the "IT" factor is for me and how I can be the "IT" factor for the right company.  Although developing ones skills is a constant endeavor, I am a firm believer that a strong foundation is the key to my type of success.

 I see myself as a capable, adaptable, and bright student of life who is ready and willing to embrace change and forge a productive path for myself in society.  Therefore I spend most days I asking myself how to get others to see me this way.  How do I ensure my professors, colleagues and future employers see my the way I see myself?  Although I have many sides and a wide array of interests, the goal that consumes me at present is being the right "fit" for an organization and beginning a productive and profitable career in the IT field.  I've had significant success in the past year with various connections, awards and exposure that I firmly believe are due to the fact that I see myself as an "IT" factor in the world of IT.  The world is full of ordinary people, ordinary students, and ordinary job seekers.  I put energy in setting myself apart from others by staying abreast of innovative technology, communicating effectively and weaving a growing network of contacts.  I've been told I spread myself too thin or that I focus on too many things at once but the essence of my being is my fervor to achieve some sort of understanding of as many things as I can.  This is my "IT" factor.  Information technology encompasses a broad arena therefore I make a habit out of exploring that arena.

Whether it's the latest developments in mobile applications, the battle between the new Facebook search capability and Google's stronghold on the search engine or Richard Branson's latest endeavor, these events are all connected in some way and I plan to reflect through this blog.  Ultimately the "IT" factor represents my stream of consciousness about all things IT and inbetween.  IT touches most expanses of our lives and I aim to gauge and try to understand and reflect on all that I can.  I ache and strive to learn so I welcome opinions of others and strive to understand various perspectives.